Protective closure for toilet bowls



Oct. 17, 1967 L PAYQN G R 3,346,888

PROTECTIVE CLOSURE FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed Dec. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. F? 3 CU fT/SLEIYSINGISR J BY awww Oct 1967 c. PAYSl-NGER 3,

PROTECTIVE CLOSURE FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed Dec. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 60:?7'15 A. fiqvsuvesR United States Patent 3,346,888 PRQTECTIVE CLOSURE FOR TOILET BOWLS Curtis L. Paysinger, Richmond, Calif. (2629 Francisco Way, El Cerrito, Calif. 94530) Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,350 6 Claims. (Cl. 4253) This invention relates generally to closures which are arranged to be selectively looked upon a toilet bowl to temporarily close the same and thereby discourage unauthorized use of the toilet, prevent articles from being thrown into the bowl by small children, etc. The invention is more particularly directed towards protective closures of the foregoing type having a simple, yet effective latching arrangement which is designed to render the removal of the closure difficult by other than an authon'zed individual.

It is frequently desirable to temporarily prevent access to the bowl of a toilet during periods of disuse, as for example when the plumbing of an apartment or house is turned off and the dwelling is being shown to prospective occupants. Similarly, it is advantageous to provide for the temporary closure of a toilet bowl in order to prevent small children from throwing articles into the bowl. Accordingly, various protective closures or covers have been devised for locking upon the open end of the bowl to prevent unauthorized access thereto. Heretofore, however, these closures have included relatively bulky and cumbersome locking mechanisms, or in some instances locking mechanisms that are overly complex.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a protective closure for toilet bowls which features a relatively simple locking or latching mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a protective closure of the class described which is of comparatively low cost construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protective closure of the class described which may be arranged either for temporary or permanent installation on a toilet bowl.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view with portions broken-away of a toilet having a protective closure in accordance with the present invention secured over the bowl thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the closure.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, illustrating details of the latching mechanism of the closure.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken at line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a toilet having a modified form of closure secured over the bowl thereof, such closure being permanently installed on the toilet.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary View taken in a plane rotated 90 to that of FIGURE 5, showing in particular a modified form of latching arrangement employed in this embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the closure arranged to facilitate movement of the closure to an out of the way position to permit use of the toilet.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken at line 8-8 of FIGURE 5, illustrating details of the latch actuating mechanism of the closure.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view through a portion of the latch actuating mechanism depicting further details thereof.

Considering now the invention as to its broader aspects and referring to the illustrated forms thereof in the drawings, there will be seen to be provided a cover of plastic material or the like arranged to be removably positioned on, and secured to the rim portion of a toilet bowl in such a manner as to discourage or prevent removal of the cover by other than an authorized individual. The cover is formed in a shape in general conformity with the rim of the bowl so as to fit over the top and the upper portion of the sides of the bowl. Latch means are carried by the cover for selective movement into and out of locking engagement with the undercut shoulder of the rim. Movement of the latch means between lock and release positions is effected by a latch actuating mechanism which is accessible from the upper side of the cover. The actuating mechanism is of a type that may be operatively engaged with the latch means to effect movement thereof without delay or difliculty only by one having knowledge of the internal nature of the mechanism, or by one having an auxiliary implement required in the operation of the mechanism. The actuating mechanism may, for example, include a lock, in which case movement of the latch means to its release positioncan be only accomplished in response to turning the lock with a key. More preferably, however, in the interest of simplicity, the mechanism is provided with hidden coupling means which require a particular predetermined maneuver of an accessible portion of the mechanism to operatively couple same to the latch means. Thus, although one may ultimately solve the nature of the mechanism and effect release of the cover from the bowl, sufiicient difiiculty and delay is encountered without prior knowledge of the mechanism that removal of the cover by an unauthorized individual, or small children is discouraged.

Referring now to FIGURES l-4, a closure 11 of the type outlined above is provided which is arranged for temporary installation on a toilet, and is therefore particularly well suited to employment in unoccupied dwellings to discourage use of the toilet where water service has been terminated. The closure 11 includes a cover 12 which as noted hereinbefore is generally marginally conformed to the outer periphery of the rim 13 of a toilet bowl 14. In this regard the cover is substantially elliptical and provided with an outwardly flared straight edge portion at one end adapted to overlie the rear portion of the rim upon which the toilet seat 16 is mounted. The cover is supported upon the upper surface of the rim in closing relation to the opening of the bowl.

The cover 12 carries an elongated latch bar 17 which in the instant embodiment serves as the previously mentioned latch means. The bar is pivotally mounted on the underside of cover 12 at substantially the center thereof in a manner subsequently described. The length of the bar is such that when the plate is aligned with the minor axis of the cover, the opposite ends of the plate are engaged with the undercut shoulder 18 extending outwardly from the inner periphery of rim 13. In this position of the latch bar the cover is hence locked to the rim and cannot be removed. However, when the latch bar is aligned with the major axis of the cover, the ends of the bar clear the shoulder 18 and the cover is hence released from the rim. Thus rotation of the latch bar between positions respectively aligned with the minor and major axes of the cover constitutes movement of the latch,

3 means of the instant embodiment between lock and release positions.

The latch actuating mechanism for effecting movement of the latch bar 17 between lock and release positions in the present case includes an operating knob 19' having an inwardly stepped depending bushing 21 extending through an aperture 22 provided substantially at the center of the cover 12. The knob bushing is freely disposed in the cover aperture to permit rotation and axial translation of the knob relative to the cover. The bushing receives a stub shaft 23, or equivalent member, extending centrally from the latch bar 17 in fixed relation thereto. The stub shaft is resiliently retained in the bushing by means of a spring 24, and in this regard the shaft is preferably tubular to permit the spring to extend therethrough. The spring is secured at its opposite ends to respectively the knob and latch bar, and a swivel joint 26 is employed at one of these end securances of the spring. A detent 27 projects inwardly from the interior surface of the bushing and is received in an annular groove 23 formed in the periphery of the shaft 23. The width of the groove is substantially greater than that of the detent in order to permit some degree of resilient axial movement of the knob and latch bar relative to each other. In addition, a longitudinal groove 29 is provided in the shaft periphery communicating at its lower end with the annular groove 28.

It will be thus appreciated that with the arrangement just described, the latch bar 17 may be pulled axially away from the operating knob 19 and cover 12 against the loading of spring 24 upon alignment of the detent 27 with the longitudinal groove 29 as depicted in FIGURE 4. With the bar thus extended away from the cover to the limit of the longitudinal groove, sufiicient clearance exists between the bar and cover to permit manipulation of the bar into engagement with the undercut shoulder 18 of the rim 13. The cover may now be placed upon the upper surface of the rim, whereupon the spring 24 draws the knob bushing 21 axially downward over the shaft. In other words, the shaft is retracted into the bushing to the position depicted in FIGURE 3 wherein the detent 27 is disposed in the annular groove 28. The cover may now be rotated relative to the knob into appropriate position on therim. By virtue of the clearance provided between the detent and sides of the annular groove, the latch bar is resiliently retained in engagement with the rim shoulder and the cover is locked to the rim despite small variations which may exist in the depth of the shoulder from the upper surface of the rim of different toilet bowls.

It is particularly important to notethat some difficulty will be encountered in releasing the cover for removal from the bowl, unless the nature of the latch actuating mechanism is known. Rotation of the accessible operating knob 19 will not actuate the latch bar 17 since the detent 27 is received by the annular groove 28 and the knob bushing merely rotates about the shaft. Exertion of an upward pull on the knob likewise is inelfectiye in actuating the latch bar. It is necessary to pull the knob upward while rotating same in order to release the latch bar. This manipulation ultimately positions the detent in the longitudinal groove 29, thus keying the shaft and bushing together. Continued rotation of the knob then effects rotation of the latch bar to its release position out of engagement with the shoulder 18, whereupon the cover may be removed from the bowl.

In some instances it is desirable that a protective closure be permanently installed on a toilet and be movable to an unobstructing position at, for example, one side of the bowl when the toilet is to be used; FIGURES -9 illustrate a modified form of closure in accordance with the present invention which is adapted for this purpose and also is provided with an alternative form of latch means and latch actuating mechanism. More particularly, a closure 31 is provided having a substantially elliptical cover 32 conformed to the rim 13 of the toilet and arranged to be supported thereon in closing relation to the bowl 14. Unlike the cover 12 of closure 11, the cover 32 is provided with a mounting section 33 at its inner end adapted for permanent installation upon the rim, as by means of the existing bolts 34 employed to mount the toilet seat 16.,By virtue of the permanent nature of the installation, the mounting section 33 is arranged such that upon release of the cover, it may be moved to an unobstructing position to one side of the toilet to permit use thereof. To this end, the mounting section includes a support panel 36 having apertures 37 for receiving the bolts 34 when the panel is positioned subjacent the hinge of seat 16. The panel 36 is provided with an outwardly projecting tongue 38 to which a hinge plate 39 is loosely pivotally secured as indicated at 40. The plate is in turn secured to the cover proper by a hinge 41. Thus, with the seat 16 raised, and the cover released from the rim, the cover may be pivoted upwardly on hinge 41 and pivoted outwardly on pivot 40 to a position to one'side of the toilet so as to be unobstructing to the bowl. The looseness of the pivot assists in enabling the cover to be disengaged from the rim. The toilet seat 16 may then be returned to its normal position of support on the rim, and the toilet used. As an alternative to the mounting section 33, it will be appreciated that a chain, or the like, may be secured to the cover and disposed about the bolts 34. The cover may then be removed and suspended at one side of the toilet by means of the chain.

Considering now the modified form of latch arrangement employed with the closure 31, it is to be noted that same preferably includes an L-shaped bracket 42 depend ing from the cover 32 adjacent one side thereof. The bracket has a laterally projecting flange 43 adapted to engage the undercut shoulder 18 .of the rim. Mounted on the under side of the cover at the opposite side thereof from bracket 42, there is provided a movable latch 44 in the form of a plate mounted for translation and having at least one flange 46 projecting therefrom laterally of the cover for engagement with the undercut shoulder 18. The latch is loaded as by means of a spring 47 to a normally retracted position out of engagement with the shoulder.

The actuating mechanism for operating the latch 44 then preferably includes a cam 48 disposed at the under-.

side of the cover 32 and secured to the end of a shaft 49 whichextends through, and is rotatable in a central opening in the cover. The shaft is formed with a collar 50 which is received in a groove 51 in the circumferentialv wall of the opening, which opening is in the base of a central recessed portion 52 of the cover. The collar thus serves to support the shaft on the cover in rotatable relation thereto. The latch 44 bears against the cam 48 under the loading of springs 47 such that the cam controls the position of the latch. In this regard, the cam is eccentric in order that in one rotary position thereof, the latch is urged outwardly to engage the flanges 46 under the shoulder 18, whereas in a second rotary position the latch is urged inwardly by the springs 47 to disengage the flange from the shoulder. Thus, rotation of the shaft 49 effects movement of the latch between lock and release positions.

In order to discourage latch actuation by other than an authorized individual, the actuating mechanism is arranged similar to that of the closure embodiment of FIG- URES 1-4. More particularly, as best shown in FIGURE 9, an actuating knob 53 is provided with a depending bushing 54 which is rotatably disposed in the recessed.

portion 52 of the cover and receives an upper end portion of shaft 49. The end portion of the shaft is formed with an annular peripheral groove 56 which communicates with an upwardly extending longitudinal groove 57. A detent 58 projects radially inward from the bushing 54 into the annular groove 56. Hence in order to actuate the latch, it is necessary to rotate the knob 53 while pulling same upward to engage the detent in the longitudinal groove 57 and thereby key the knob to the shaft 49. Continued rotation of the knob then rotates the shaft to effect movement of the latch to its release position. The cover may then be manipulated out of engagement with the rim by virtue of the freedom of movement afforded by the mounting section 33, and pivoted to an unobstructing position at one side of the toilet.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective closure for toilet bowls having a rim with an undercut shoulder comprising a cover having a size and configuration to be supported upon the upper surface of said rim in closing relation to said bowl, latch means carried by said cover for selective movement into and out of locking engagement with said undercut shoulder, and a latch actuating mechanism carried by said cover and operatively engageable with said latch means to effect said movement thereof, said latch actuating mechanism having an external portion manipulable in a predetermined manner into and out of operative engagement with said latch means, said latch actuating mechanism including a shaft portion and a bushing coaxial with said shaft portion, one of said shaft portion and said bushing being secured to said latch means and the other thereof having an actuating knob secured thereto, said actuating knob being rotatably mounted on the top of said cover, one of said shaft portion and bushing having an annular groove and longitudinal groove communicating therewith and the other thereof having a detent engaging said grooves whereby in response to rotational and axial movement of said knob said detent is engaged in said longitudinal groove to key said knob into said operative engagement with said latch means.

2. A protective closure for toilet bowls according to claim 1, further defined by said cover having means for securing same to the mounting portion of a toilet seat and permitting movement of said cover to a position at one side of said bowl.

3. A protective closure for toilet bowls having a rim with an undercut shoulder comprising a cover having a substantially elliptical configuration conformed to that of said rim and adapted to be supported upon the upper surface thereof in closing relation to said bowl, a latch bar rotatably mounted on the underside of said cover substantially centrally thereof, said bar being of a length such that at least one of its ends projects laterally from said cover and engages said shoulder when said bar is aligned with the minor axis of said cover and is disengaged from said shoulder when said bar is aligned with the major axis of said cover, and an actuating mechanism carried by said cover and operatively engageable with said latch bar to effect rotation thereof, said actuating mechanism having an external portion manipulable in a predetermined manner to selectively effect operative engagement with said latch bar, said actuating mechanism including a shaft received in a bushing on the underside of said cover substantially centrally thereof, one of said shaft and said bushing being secured to said latch bar and the other thereof having an actuating knob secured thereto, said actuating knob being rotatably mounted on the top of said cover, one of said shaft and bushing having an annular groove and longitudinal groove communicating with the annular groove and the other thereof having a detent extending int-o said annular groove and engageable with said longitudianl groove to effect operative engagement of said actuating knob with said latch bar.

4. A protective closure according to claim 3, further defined by a spring secured between said shaft and the interior end of said bushing, and by said annular groove having a width substantially greater than that of said detent to permit axial movement between said shaft and bushing.

5. A protective closure for toilet bowls having a rim with an undercut shoulder comprising a cover having a size and configuration to be supported upon the upper surface of said rim in closing relation to said bowl, latch means carried at the underside of said cover for engagement with said shoulder, said latch means including a latch plate mounted for translation upon the underside of said cover having a flange projecting laterally thereof for engagement with said shoulder and spring loaded to a normally retracted position out of engagement with the shoulder, an eccentric cam rotatably mounted at the underside of said cover and engaging said latch plate to effect movement thereof between extended and retracted positions in response to cam rotation, and actuating means on the top of said cover selectively engageable with said cam in a predetermined manner to effect rotation thereof, said actuating means including a shaft and a bushing coaxial with said shaft, one of said shaft and said bushing being secured to said cam and the other thereof having an actuating knob secured thereto, said actuating knob being rotatably mounted on the top of said cover, one of said shaft and bushing having an annular groove and longitudinal groove communicating therewith and the other thereof having a detent engaging said grooves.

6. A protective closure according to claim 5, further defined by a support panel adapted to be secured to said rim subjacent a mounting portion of a toilet seat secured thereto, said panel having an outwardly projecting tongue, and a hinge plate loosely pivotally secured to said tongue and hingedly secured to said cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 733,787 7/1903 Woodrutf 4253 1,521,125 12/1924 Rackham -161 1,826,023 10/1931 Roberts 70162 2,007,509 7/ 1935 Thomas 70169 2,299,065 10/1942 Scheerer. 2,529,587 11/1950 Bates et a1 4253 3,228,182 1/1966 Boles et al. 5858.5 3,255,619 7/1966 Haglund et al 70-175 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,492/31 11/1932 Australia. 46,441 3/ 1889 Germany.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. B. E. KILE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROTECTIVE CLOSURE FOR TOILET BOWLS HAVING A RIM WITH AN UNDERCUT SHOULDER COMPRISING A COVER HAVING A SIZE AND CONFIGURATION TO BE SUPPORTED UPON THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID RIM IN CLOSING RELATION TO SAID BOWL, LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID COVER FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID UNDERCUT SHOULDER, AND A LATCH ACTUATING MECHANISM CARRIED BY SAID COVER AND OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH MEANS TO EFFECT SAID MOVEMENT THEREOF, SAID LATCH ACTUATING MECHANISM HAVING AN EXTERNAL PORTION MANIPULABLE IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH MEANS, SAID LATCH ACTUATING MECHANISM INCLUDING A SHAFT PORTION AND A BUSHING COAXIAL WITH SAID SHAFT PORTION, ONE OF SAID SHAFT PORTION AND SAID BUSHING BEING SECURED TO SAID LATCH MEANS AND THE OTHER THEREOF HAVING AN ACTUATING KNOB SECURED THERETO, SAID ACTUATING KNOB BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF SAID COVER, ONE OF SAID SHAFT PORTION AND BUSHING HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE AND LONGITUDINAL GROOVE COMMUNICATING THEREWITH AND THE OTHER THEREOF HAVING A DETENT ENGAGING SAID GROOVES WHEREBY IN RESPONSE TO ROTATIONAL AND AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID KNOB SAID DETENT IS ENGAGED IN SAID LONGITUDINAL GROOVE TO KEY SAID KNOB INTO SAID OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH MEANS. 